A senior BJP leader, popular both on his home turf and formerly accepted as the party’s chief ministerial candidate by his political opponents before Kiran Bedi’s recent induction, Professor Jagdish Mukhi has directly locked horns with his son-in-law at West Delhi’s Janakpuri Assembly constituency this year.
You were being viewed as the BJP’s face in Delhi and probable CM candidate, are you annoyed at the party for not being able to deliver on its promise?
When did the party ever project me as its chief ministerial candidate? (Arvind) Kejriwal was the one who declared that I would be made CM and behind these rumours. He attempted to create a rift within the BJP, but failed miserably.
I think he should concentrate on keeping his own act together in the future.
So, there’s no rift in the party, no heartburn despite many reports that claim otherwise, especially in relation to Ms. Bedi’s induction?
The party is united, a hundred percent at that. All these lies and rumours are simply, and basically, malicious.
Isn’t contesting directly against your son-in-law somewhat problematic for you and the family?
In a parliamentary democracy, elections are fought between parties instead of individuals.
That’s what your son-in-law also said when asked how it felt to contest against you. Any thought on him as a rival candidate?
I have been in politics over a long period of time, won as many as seven elections in my lifetime, but never spoken a word against the rival candidate, no matter who they were. Like I said, elections are fought between parties, not individuals.
What are the issues that you would address if voted to power?
Over the past five years, I concentrated on providing basic necessities which didn’t exist throughout the constituency. Now, I will extend comfort to these localities and residents of areas such as Indra Park, Prem Nagar and east Uttam Nagar to name a few.
